Vending machine



Feb. 14, 1933. R. D. PARKS ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filefi D60. 24, 1928 lI' "HiVY M.

IIHllllll 8 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 14, 1933. l R. D. PARKS ET AL 1,897,072

VENDING MACHINE 40 Fi 4 1 s sheets-sheet 2 Glenn Hi ldenmnd l Feb. 14,1933. R D PARKS ET AL 1,897,072

VENDING MACHINE Filed Deo. 24, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 14, 1933. R D.PARKS ET AL Y 1,897,072

VENDING- MACHINE Filed Dec. 24, 1928 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 14, 1933. R.D. PARKS ET AL VENDING MACHINE 8 sheets-sheet 5 i "u and,

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. R. D. PARKS ET AL VENDING MACHINE Feb. 14, 1933.

8 Sheets'jheet 6 Filed Dec. 24, 1928 R. D, PARKS ET AL Feb. '14, 1933.

VENDING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet l l I..

Feb. 14, 1933.

R. D. PARKS ET AL VENDING MACHINE Filed 4Dec. 24, 1928 v a? J5 w/graoert Parks Gien/1. f'dzrandl.

8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATNT OFFICEROBERT D. PARKS AND GLENN HILDENBRAND, F EOHRVILLE, IOWA, ASSIGrN'OIExIST0 SELF-SERVE BOTTLE VENDOR COMPANY, OF FORT DODGE, IOWA, .A CORPORATIONOF IOWA VENDING MACHINE Application :tiled December 24, 1928. Serial No.328,190.

This invention relates lto coin or token operated vending machines andmore particularly machines for vending bottled goods, such as softdrinks.

One object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which isrender'edv operative to eject a bottle only on the insertion of a coinor token of the proper size or value,l

thereby preventing .spurious operation of the machine.

Another object of the invention is to cause the coin or token whendropped into' the machine to operatively connect the handle and theejector device so that the mechanism i `is conditioned for operationthrough the inprovide means controlled by the movement of the articlesdown the discharge passage to successively open the shelves thereto sothat the feed of the articles from the shelves will ,not block or hinderthe movement o the articles down said passage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a platform at the lowerend of the discharge passage to receive the articles therefrom andpermit the ejector mechanism to discharge the articles one at a timefrom said platform.

A further object of the invention is to have the ejector mechanismconstructed and arranged to support the articles in the dischargepassage while discharging an article from the `platform and thus relievethe ejected article of thesweight of the articles thereabove.

A further object of the invention is to have the platform vertically7movable, with means for raising the platform up to the articlessupported by the ejector mechanism so as to transfer the weight of thearticles from the ejector mechanism to the platform without breakage orjar as soon as the ejector mechanism releases the articles in thedischarge passage. A A further object of the invention is to providemeans for retarding the descent of the platform under the weight of thearticles thereon so that the platform may move down to its dischargingposi-tion without aording any possibility for the articles to separateand drop against one another to break or crack during the descent of theplatform.

A further obj ect of the invention is to provide a novel form of meansfor returning a rebate to the customer on the return `of an empty bottleinto the machine, such rebate being in the form of a coin or token of alesser denomination than inserted in the machine to secure a filledbottle.

A further object of thevinvention is to cause the rebate coin ejectingmechanism to be operated in the movement of the empty bottles into thecompartment of the machine provided for that purpose, said mechanismhaving an operating handle exterior ofthe machine, which is moved by thecustomer after inserting an empty bottle into the machine;

A further obj ect of the invention is to pr0. vide a gauge for the emptybottles so that only the particular bottles as dispensed by the machinemay be returned thereto, thereby preventing spuriou-s operation of themachine to rob it of its supply of rebate coins.

A further object of the invention is t0 provide a bottle ejecting andcoin rebate mechanism of such a character that it is adaptable to lamachine the outer casing of which may be made in the shape of anenlarged bottle of the type and character which is vended by themachine. v

The invention consists further in the matters hereinafter described andclaimed. In the accompanying drawings* Fig. l` is a front view of myimproved vending machine; j

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the machine on theindirect A line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through gravity feedand storage rac-k online 3-3 of Fig'. 19, the gates of the rack beingshown;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the shelves of the. rack;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view Vtaken through the shelf on line 5-5of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the shelf taken on line 6-6 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken through the machineat the bottle ejecting mechanism and showing the dash-pot arrangement;

Flg. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the bottle ejectingmechanism taken online 8-8 of Fig. 9, the guard for the coin chute beingshown;

Fig. 9 is aV vertical sectional view taken through the structure of Fig.8 in front of 4 the coin guard;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view taken on the indirect line 10-10 ofFig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view showing the manner in which a coinor token of the proper size conditions the bottle ejecting mechanism foroperation;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the channel member which supports theoperative parts of the ejector mechanism; l

Figs. 13 and 14 are plan views of the top and bottom plates of saidmechanism;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged horizontal sectionald view taken on line 15-15 ofFig. 2 to show the manner in which a returned emptybottle operates therebate coin ejector;

Fig. 16 is an elevational view of this mechanism;

Fig. 17 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the rebate coinejector;

Fig. 18 is a horizontal setcional view taken iihrough this mechanism online 18-18 of ig. 1,9 is a horizontal sectional view taken through themachine on line 19-19 of Fig. l;

Fig. 20 is a view illustrating the action of the gates at the dischargeends ofthe shelves of the rack; A

Fig. 21 'shows another form of coin chute; and L Fig. 22 is a verticalsectional view showing .vdetail construction taken on line 22-22 of 1g.1.- f

l In Fig. 1, the outer casing 1 of the machine is made in the form of` agigantic bottle hav' ing the representation of a crimp cap 2 at itsupper end and a platform 3 at its lower end, which platform is providedwith rollers 4, 4 to provide a movable support for the ma chine. ,Theouter casing 1 may have the shape of the particular bottles dispensed bythe machine and also may be given 'a color representative ofthe color ofthe liquid con- 'tents of such bottles so as to be suggestive of thecharacter of beverage sold. l

As shown in Fig. 2, the interior of the casing 1 isdivided into a numberof super-imposed -compartmentsl5,6 and 7. The upper compartment 5contains a gravity feed andl storage rack from which the filled bottlesare fed to the coin operated bottle ej ecting mechanism of the machine,said rack being of a size and shape to hold a considerable number offilled bottles so as to avoid the necessity of too frequent reloading ofthe machine.

The rack comprises a tier of sheet metal shelves 8, 8 arranged at adownward inclination and having their upper ends supported by brackets9, 9 provided on the adjacent inner wall 10 of the compartment 5, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3. .The lower ends of the shelves are supported onhorizontal crossbars 11, 11 which extend between andare detachablysecured to upright channel `members 12, 13, both of which extenddownward from the top wall 14 of the compartment 5, as shown in Figs. 2,3, and 20. The lower ends of the members 12, 13 terminate short of thebottom wall 15 of said compartment, as shown in Fig. 2. The outer member12 is secured by a bracket '16 to the top wall 14, as shown in Fig. 20,while theinner member 13 is secured to the adjacent rear wall-17 of saidcompartment, as shown in Fig. 19. The ends of the bars 11 are bentdownward and engage in apertures in the members 12, 13 made .by strikingout portions 18, 19 of said members.

Each shelf 8 is provided with upright side 'walls 20, 21 to provide atrough to accom1notween the lower ends of the shelves and the opposedupright inner wall 24 of said compartment.

Vertically disposedshim plates 25, 25 are secured in the passage 23against the inner side of the wall 24 so as to condition the passageforthe diameter of the'bottles passi ing therethrough. A door 26 extendsbetween the wall 24 and the outer member 12 to normally close the outerside of the passage 23 and prevent the bottles in the passage fromdropping or working out of the same.

The door 26 ispreferably hinged to the wall 2,4 and is provided with anyform of latch on its opposite edgeto engage the member 12 .for holdingthe door closed.

A platform 27 is arranged below the lower end of the passage 23 tosupport the tier of -bottles in said passage, aslshown in Fi 2.

In loading therack, this passage is iirst lled with lfilledbottles, thedoor 26 being open so as to permit the'bottles to be inserted endwiseinto the passage. The passage is filled to the top of the rack andadditional bottles are placed l1n the troughs as provided by thetherefrom into the discharge' assage 23, said rgate mechanism beingcontrol ed by the movement of the bottles or other articles handledby 1othe machine down said passage. Each gate comprises a flat sheet metalplate 28 substantially as long as the associated shelf 8 and slidablysupported on to of the same, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. eplate 28 isalso as wide as the shelf 8 and has one of its side margins under theflange20a so as to be held thereby from`upward displacement with respectto the shelf 8. The, outer end portion 29 of the plate is bent downwardand extends toward the shelf therebelow so as to rovide a stop for therow ofbottles on the lbwer shelf.

A strip 30 is vertically arranged on the outer side of the stop'29 andhas its upper nd forming a tongue 31 wliich extends to the rear side ofthe stop 29 through a slot 32 provided therein, as shown in Fig. 5. Thestrip 3() extends below the stop 29 on its outer side and releasablyholds the bottles engaged thereby against the outermost shim plate 25 soas to prevent a too rapid descent of the bottles in the passage 23. Thetongue 31 at this time engages behind a lip 33 at the adjacent end ofthe shelf 8 so as to normally hold the lower portion of the strip 30slightly separated from the stop 29 to allow for the yielding actionreferred to. When the uppermost bottle in the passage 23 passesbelow andout of Contact with the lbwer end of the strip 30, the inward pressureon said strip is releasedv and it springs outward to release the tongue31 from the lip 33, whereupon the weightl of the bottles against theinner'side of the stop 29 will move the'stop outward across` the passage23 and release the bottles for entry into said passage. (See Fig. 20.)

The compartment 5 is provided with an entrance opening 34 for whichthere is a hinged doorV 35 aving a surrounding marginal flange 36 whichimpinges against a packing gasket 37 arranged about the openings 34 tohermetically seal the same when the 7 door is closed. A perforatedreceptacle 38 is` removably carried on the inner side of the door' 35to'hold the ice re uired to re-4 frigerate rthe filled bottles in t ecomparti ment 5 and thus permit the machine to vend 2 and the casinice-cold drinks.

A horizontal partition wall 39 is arrangedl in the casing 1 below thebottom wall 15 of .the compartment 5 so as to provide in connectin; withthe walls of that compartment 1 a hollow space which is filled with'asuitable heat-insulating packing 40 t9 prevent heatenteringthecompartment 5.. Y t l, A

- provided in an -uprl the compartment' through its bottom wall i 15 andcontinues through the compartment 6 and discharges into a suitablereceptacle 42 in the compartment 7, as shown in Fig. 2; A hinged door 43closes the entrance opening into these compartments and this door alsohas a lock to lock it closed. The pipe 41 extends high enough above thebottom wall 15 so as to maintain a certain amount of water in the bottomof the compartment 5 for the purpose of filling the dash pot, to bepresently described. A pipe 44 is connected with the lower end of thedrain 41 so that the compartment 5 may be drained exterior of the deviceifdesired. .V

The bottle ejectingmechanism is larranged in the compartment 5 beneaththe lower 'end of the rack andabove the water level ther 1n, as shown inFig. 2. Said mechanism c mprises a horizontally disposed channel m mer45 having upright side walls 46, 47. Said member 45 is secured to theupright wall 17 of t'heacompartment 5 with. its *side wall 46 againstthe same. Slidably mounted in the channel member 45 is a bar 48, the Couter end of which extends outward through the casing 1 and is thereprovided with an actuating handle 49. An angle bar 50 extends into thechannel member 45 through a slot 51 in its outer side wall 46, asshownin Figs. 10 and 12. i

Plates 52 and 53 are secured to the upper and lower sides of the portionof the bar 50 in the channel member 45 with the plate 52 on the top sideof the bar and the plate 53 on the under side of the same andextending'completely across the channel and under the adjacent portionof the bar 48, as shown in Fig. 11. A liange 47a at the top of the sidewall 47 extends inward over the bar 48 to hold it in the channel. at thebar 48 and secured to this bar adjacent the inner end of the plate is anupright pin 54 to which is secured the forward end of a coiled spring55. The other end of this spring is secured to the upper portion of anangle bracket 56 which is fastened to the u1ider side of the channelmember 45, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.- A stop 57 is secured to the topside of the plate 52 in rear of the pin l54, as shown in Fig. 10.

The coin chute for the ejecting mechanism has aligned outer and innerinclined portions The top plate 52 terminates 58, 59. The outer portion58 extends through n thecasing l and the packing 40 and` opens throughthe wall 24 in line with the inner portion 59, as shown in Figs. 8and-:10. The mner portion 59 discharges intoY a'channel t member60-which is secured to and carriedby the top platel52 adjacent itsforward end. A guard 61 with a flared upper end is secured to the topplate 52 over the channel 60 and provides 'a covering therefor so as toguide the coin or token enteringjthe channel into a number of openings62, 63, 64 in the top and bottom plates 52, 53 and the interposedportion of the handle bar 48, respectively, when said openings are inregister. These openings are arranged to extend crosswise of the partsin which they are provided so that the coin in sliding flatwise down thecoin chute may en- .ter the openings and come to rest on the .bot-

tom wall of the channel member 45, as shown in Fig. 11, wherefthe coinis indicated by 65. When the coin is so disposed the bars 48 and arelocked together through the coin so Athat the bar 50 will be movedforward in the outward movement of the bar 48 to eject a ySi) bottlefrom the platform 27 and shift the coin into register with an opening66in the bottom wall of the guide 45` to drop the coinv into. the coinreceptacle 67 which is secured inrthecompartment 5 below the opening 66,as lndlcated in Fig. 9. .This receptacle may be made in the form of adrawer so that it may be removed for emptying its collection of coins.

In the outward movement of the handle bar 48 to discharge a bottle fromthe platform-27, the spring is expanded so as to return the parts totheir coin-receiving positions, when the handle bar is released. As thespring 55 contracts it carries the pin 54 rearward and through the stop57 on the rear side of the pin carries the plates 52 and 4 53 and theattached bar 50 back to their coin receiving positions.

` 1 and the wall 24 of'the compartment 5, as

shown in Fig. 2. The ejected bottle falls ona baile wall arranged inthis casing4 and drops into the bottom of the casing and rolls outwardtoward an opening 71 through which the ejected bottle may be taken fromthe machine. The bale Wall 70 provides a.

guard lWithin the casing 69 so that no entry can be had into the casingto reach a bottle on the platform 27. l

The platform 27 is depressibly mounted and is held down in its lowermostposition by the weight of the bottles thereon, as shown in Fig. 2, inwhich position the bottle on .the platform is disposed so as to beejected into -the casing 69 in the forward actuation of the ejector yoke68. This yoke, as shown in Fig". 10, is wider than the platform 27 sothat 1t straddles 1t as it moves over the platform, and

. also has height suicient to engage under the bottle immediat-el as tohold the bott es in the passage 23 from prematurely descending as the'lowermost bottle is ejected from the platform. When relieved of abottle, the platform asce'nds, due l which extends downward through awater' containing chamber provided by a casing 73, which is supported bythe bottom wall 15 of the compartment 5 directly beneath the shifteryoke 68, as shown in Fig. 7. The lower end of the plunger rod 72 extendsinto a dash pot cylinder 74 which depends from the lower end of thecasing 73 and opens into thesame so as to be filled with'watertherefrom. A piston 75 fits in the cylinder and is secured to the lowerend of the plunger 72, said pisvton having a plurality of port holes .,76 through which water may pass. l

A loose disc or valve plate 77 is carried by the plunger 72 below thepiston 75 so as to uncover thev ports 76 in the upward movevment of theplunger and thus permit a quick ascent of the same. The disc 77 closesthe ports ,76 in the downward movement of the plunger so as tomaterially restrict the flow of water through the ports and-thus'retardthe downward movement and' prevent a vtoo counter-weight 8O is ap ied tothe other end4 of the lever so as to re ate the speed of up and downmovement of the plunger.

A guard member 81 is provided to prevent a coin entering the innerportion 59 of the above the platform so4 v sudden descent of the plungerto avoid breakcoin chute when the machine 'is empty. The

guard 81 is in the form f an angularlybent strip supported in uprightposltlon by a bracket 82 secured to the adjacent 1nner wall 24'of thecompartment 5, as shown in Fig. 8. The lower end 83 of the 4guard ex-@tends beneath a projection 84 on the plat- -form 27 so that whenthe-platform is depressed to its lowermost position. by the weight ofthe bottles thereon, the guard 81 will be movedxiownward and its upperportion withdrawn from between the outer and inner parts 58, 59 of thecoin chute, as is ap- Lparent from Figs. 8 and 9. When the platform 27is relieved of a bottle by the action of the ejector yoke 68, or whenthe last bottle 5 has been discharged from the device, the platform 27in raising frees the lower end 83 of the guard 81 and a coiled spring85, which is attached to the guard, raises itl and projects its upperend into the space between'pthe inne/r and outer portions of thecoinchute, as shown in Fig. 8.-V The upper end of the spring 85 isconnected to an inwardly extending pin 86 carried by the adjacent innerwall of the compartment 5. When the guard 81 is in this position, itwilll intercept a coinv dropped into the coin chute and deflect it intoa return coin receptacle 87 mounted in the casing 1 and accessible fromthe outside of the casing so that the returned coin may be retrieved.

The compartment 6 forms a space to receive the empty bottles, the latterbeing 1nserted into said compartment through a bottle receiving opening88 accessible from the exterior of the machine. The opening 88 is madeto `conform 'to the shape and size of the bottle dispensed by themachine so that no other bottles can be inserted into the machine,thereby preventing the unauthorized presently described.

The opening 88 is formed 1n the uprlght rear wall of aigauge housing 89set in the `casing 1 in the upper part of the compartment 6 so that anempty bottle, after being positioned upright in the housing 89 back ofthe guard plate 90 extending crosswise over the mouthof the same, may beslid back through the opening 88 and drop into the compartment 6 andcome to rest in anupright position in a trough 91 arranged on the bottomwall 92 of said compartment, as shown in Fig. 15. The returned bottlecomes p to rest in the trough to the rear of a sweep 93 securedto thelower end of a bent handle 94, which is fulcrumed in a suitable bracket95secured to the inner side of the casing 1, as shown in Fig. 15. Theouter or grasping part of the handle extends outside of the casing 1through anopeni 96 provided in said cas'- ing directly beneat the gauge89, as shown in Fig. 1. The portion of the handle to which the` swee issecured and which is supported by the racket 95 is arranged inside ofthe casing 1 and about such portion is a coiled spring 97 so arranged asto normally maintain the sweep in the position shown in Fig. 15 so thatan empty bottle may be deposited in the machine to the rear of thesweep. The trough 91 is formed by upright' side walls 98, 98 arranged inparallelism and curved to conform to the curvature of the casing'l andcontinued for ashortdistance from the' sweep 93 where the; ghopens intothe compartment 6 't Jurned actuation of the coin-rebate mechanism, tobeempty bottles may be moved into the compartment 6 in the operation ofthe sweep 93,

vas indicated in Fig. 15. By opening the door 43, the compartment 6 maybe reached for the removal of the empty bottles.

The partition'wall 39 forms the top wall of the Icompartment 6 and a atbracket 99 is secured to the under side of this partition wall Vabovethe trough 91. Depending from the bracket 99 to the rear of the trough91 is a spindle 100, to the lower end of which is secured a horizontallydisposed arm 101 which extends over the top of the trough so as to be inthe path of movement of the empty bottles therethrough. A coiled spring102 surrounds the spindle 100 and has its lower end engaged with the arm101 and its upper end engaged with the bracket 99 so as to turnA l`extends upward through a tubular guiderv 107 provided on the bottomwall 15 of the compartment 5 and continues above the normal level of thewater therein, as shown in Fig. 2. The' inner casing 108 of the coinreceptacle has a telescopic t in the casing 106 and extends above thesame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 17,. so that said coin holdery 108- may bereached for removal through the compartment 5 when it is desired torefill the holder with coins to be returned. The holder 108 has anoutwardly extending tongue 109 which rests in a notch at the upper endof the outer casing 106 so as to support the holder in I sweep 93 andthe arm 101, due to the fact that the extent of movement ofthe sweep isnot sufficient to shift a single empty bottle into contact with the arm.With a number ,of empty bottles interposed, the sweep, when actuated torshift an empty bottle which is (1e-` positedin4 the machine to the rearof the sweepfpushes such bottle against the bottles in advance andcauses the foremost bottle to be moved against and past the outer endof' the arm 101. This swin s the said arm toward the discharge end o thetrough 91 and moving the ejector plate 104 lto carry a rebate coin fromunder the "coin holder and overan opening 1 10 'm the bracket 99. Thecoin then isc ' passes through the o l the arm lis at a point where itcan not be vide for quick dispatch of the varticles' from` -ating bottes `tothe machine.

-reached from the opening 88. This prevents anyone tampering-with thearm to eject return Acoins from the machine without operthe arm throughthe return of empty Arranged on the outside of the casin 1 is a bottlecap remover 113 below which 1s a. receptacle-114' for receiving the capsas they are pulled off the tops of the bottles.

The device of our invention is simple in construction and operation. Theparts of the device are d'urable and strong and will withstand repeatedand long use without depreciable wear. Filled vbottles are dischargedfrom the platform 27 with ease and dispatch, and no labor is placed onthe operator because the parts operate easil and have relatively shortmovements whic prothe machine. The empty bottles may be immediately andreadily returned to the device and therebate coin ejected withoutdiiculty y or effort. Interchangeable gauges 89 may be made for themachine so that the machine may be provided with a gauge for theparticular size and shape o bottle being dispensed. This will depend ofcourse on the 89 being the only change that is required.

characterof the particular bottle as adopted by the manufacturer of thebeverages being handled, and the machine therefore may be readilyemployed for-(such bottles, the gauge The feed rack and the ejectormechanism are al1 made so Vas to accommodate the largest size of bottlethat may be employed, andwith the shimstrips 25, 25 the dischargepassage 23 may be conditioned for bottles of various diameters by merelyremoving or adding the necessary strips.

date the largest diameter so that there is no change required in theshelf construction.

o The device as a whole forms avery attractive bottle Vender, not onlybecause of its shape of a gigantic bottle and the color suggestive ofthe liquid contents thereof, but due to the operator playing animportant part in ejectingthe filled bottles and also the return 4 ofthe empty bottles-to the machine with a rebate coin'returned for eachernpty bottle.

To prevent operationof the machine by i coins or tokens of improper sizeor value, we

fmaymake the inner and outer portions of the coin chute as shown in Fig.21. As illusirated, these chute sections are divided into upper andlwerchannels by inwardly ex-^ The spacing between the shelves of therack is such as to accommotending flangesj113a, Ill-1a.v These flanges lterminate short of each other to provide a slot 115 therebetween. Thewidth of the upper channel is j'ust wide enough 'to receive the thechute being supported by the flange 113a,

114a across the slot 115. A larger coin -or token will not enter thechute, a smaller coin may ener the chute, but` it will be directed intothe lower channel of the chute through the slotbetween the flanges, oneof the flanges being inclined downward for' thepurpose, as shown. Theimproper coin or token will drop out of the lower'channel and not allinto the slot-s 62, 63 and 64, the guard 61 being above the lowerchannel to prevent this. The spurious coin-or token will be deflectednto the opening 66 and drop into the coin rece tacle 67 withoutoperating the machine. Il)

The details of construction and arrangement of parts shown`and describel may beJ variously changed and modified wit out eparting from thespirit and sc ope of our. n-

vention. However the machine may be e ployed for vending other articlesand we o not wish to limit it to bottle vending exce t as pointed'outuin claims which are so espressed.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a bottle vending machine, ya rack to support the bottles handledby the machine, means providing a discharge passage for the rack, saidrack having inclined shelves for feeding the bottles 'thereon by gravityinto said passage, said shelves having upright side walls to providetroughs for the bottles, and an inclined flange on ,a side wall of each.trough to support the mouth ends ofthe bottles therein.- v

2. In a vending machine, means providing a.

downwardly extending discharge passage for 'the articles handled by themachine, av depressible platform at the lower end of the passage toreceive the artlcles therefrom,

ejector means for ejecting the articles one at a time from vtheplatform, said 'ejector means supporting the articles in the passagewhile ejecting an article from the platform, and means for moving theplatform up to the articles supported-by the ejector means so that theweight of the articles in the passage mayl be transferred to theplatform as soon as rel leased by the ejector means.

3. In a vending machine, means provldlng a downwardly extendingdischarge passage for the articles handled by the machine, a depressibleplatform at the lower end of the passage to receive the articlestherefrom, e]ec -tor means for.ejecting the articles one at a time :fromthe platform, said ejector means supporting the articles in the passagewhile ejectingfan articlefrom the platform, means for moving theplatform up tothe articles Supported by the ejector meansl so thattheAweight of the articles in the passage may be transferred to the platformas soon as released by the ejector means, and means for retarding thedescent of the platform under the weight of the articles thereon. V

4. In a vending machine, means providing a downwardly extendingdischarge passage for the articles handled by the machine, a depressibleplatform at the lower end of the passage to receive the articlestherefrom, ejector means for ejectingthe articles one at a time from theplatform, said ejector means supporting the articles in the passagewhile eject-ing an article from the platform, a weight to move theplatform up to the articles supported by the ejector mechanism, and adash pot mechanism providing for the gradual descent of the platformunder the weight of the articles thereon when released by the ejectormeans.

5. In a vending machine, means providing a downwardly extendingdischarge passage for the articles handled by the machine, a depressibleplatform at the lower end of said passage to support the articlestherein, and an ejector mechanism having a yoke movable over theopposite ends of the platform to support the articles in the passagewhile ejecting an article from the platform, said mechanism includingmeans for withdraw'- ing the yoke from the platform when the latj terhas raised to article supporting position.

6. In a vending machine, a rack to support the articles handled by themachine, means providing a discharge passage for the rack, y

said rack having a tier of downwardly inclined shelves, each shelfhaving a lug adjacent its discharge end, gates at the discharge ends ofthe shelves to prevent the feed of the articles thereon into saidpassage, and a latch member pivotally carried by each gate and having aportion cooperable with the lug to normally hold the gate in closedposition, each latch member having avportion engageable by the articlesin the discharge passage and when released thereby permitting the openrgof the gate controlled by said latch mem- 7 In a vending machine, a rackhaving a tier of downwardly inclined shelves to support the articleshandled by the machine, means providing a discharge passage for therack, said passage crossing the discharge ends 8. In a vending machine,a rack having a tier of downwardly inclined shelves to support thearticles handled by the machine, means providing a discharge passage for,the rack, said passage crossing the discharge ends of the shelves,gates at the discharge ends of the shelves to prevent the feed of thearticles thereon into said passage, and a latch member carried by eachgate and having a portionin the discharge passage on the outer side ofthe gate to be pressed inward toward the gate by the articles in thedischarge passage in contact with said member for holding the gate inclosed position, said latch member when released by the articles movingout of engagement therewith springing outward to unlock the gate andpermit it to open its shelf to the discharge passage.

9. In a vending machine, a storage rack having a discharge passage, saidrack having shelves to support the articles to be handled by themachine, gates at the discharge ends of the shelves to prevent the feedof the articles thereon into said discharge passage, and latch means foreach gate, said latch means extending into the discharge passage forengagement with the articles therein for normally holding the gates inclosed position, the releasing of the latch means to permit the open- Ying of the gates being controlled by the movement of the articles in thedischarge passage out of engagement with the latch means, said gates.being supported by the shelves by having: portions slidably engagedtherewith.

In testimony whereof we aiiX our signatures.

R. D. PARKS. GLENN HILDENBRAND.

of the shelves, gates at the ldischarge ends of the shelves to preventthe feed of the articles thereon into said passage, and a latch membercarried byv each gate to normally hold the gates in closed position,each latch member having -a portion in the discharge passage on theouter side of the gate, and eX- tending below the same, whereby thelatch member will not be released to permit thev opening of its gateuntil after the articles in the discharge passage have passed -wellbelow the gate. v

